In other words, if you have purchased a Caller Ringtone after Dec 17, then you will be paying RM2 a month for each Caller Ringtone stored for your Maxis number. For example, if you have 5 Caller Ringtones for your number, then you will be paying a monthly fee of RM10(RM2 x 5) every month or RM120 year.

This is more expensive then the previous charging system where customers pay RM3 to buy a Caller Ringtone and later pay RM3 per month no matter of how many Caller Ringtones they have.

With the new system, customers pay RM3-RM4 to purchase a Caller Ringtone and later has to pay a “renewal fee” every month for EACH Caller Ringtone they bought.

However, Maxis and Hotlink customers are given an option to choose between the old and new charging method.

The down part, customers who wish to remain on the old charging method(RM3 per month for unlimited Caller Rintones) are not allowed to purchase any new Caller Ringtones after Dec 17.

Customers who opt for the new charging method will have to pay the “renewal fee” for all Caller Ringtones(including the old Caller Ringtones purchased before Dec 17, 2007) under their number.

In a media report, “We made it simpler” said T. Kugan, head of products and infotainment business at Maxis’ products and new business division. “Just download the song you want and pay the rental fee each month” he said.

The option given are inconvenient as I believe both old and new charging methods are using the same Caller Ringtones system. I wonder how fast Mobile Number Portability will arrive?

Maxis will also offer new packages such as purchasing 3 songs at RM5 in the future.

Read the Caller Ringtones FAQ here.

Last checked DiGi was still charging a monthly fee of RM3 for their Caller Tunes no matter the number of Caller Tunes purchased under its mobile number.